Woman claims paralysis after collision

Doris Woodhouse has filed suit individually and on behalf of her child, Darwyn Woodhouse, Jr., against Louise Y. Precht, alleging Woodhouse was paralyzed after the vehicle Precht was driving collided with theirs.

Woodhouse claims that on Aug. 14, 2007, at about 1:05 p.m., Darwyn was driving south on Old Collinsville Road, approaching Lake Lorraine Drive with Woodhouse as his passenger, according to a suit filed Sept. 12.

Precht was stopped at a stop sign on Lake Lorraine Drive and was attempting to turn north onto Old Collinsville Road when she collided with the vehicle Darwyn was driving, the suit states.

Woodhouse claims she and Darwyn were made sick, sore, lame, and disordered and suffered extensive injuries to thier heads, bodies, limbs and the soft tissues of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines.

In addition, she claims she was paralyzed in both legs, suffered massive facial abrasions, swelling to the right side of her face and temple, decreased sensation and motor function to her right lower extremity, pain in both sides of her neck, lower back pain, abdominal tenderness, headache and shoulder pain in shoulder and between the shoulder blades and a loss of earnings and earning potential.

As a result of the injuries, Woodhouse and her son have suffered disability and disfigurement and pain and suffering, plus have incurred medical costs, the suit states.

Precht was negligent because she collided with another vehicle, failed to keep a proper lookout, drove too fast, failed to decrease her speed in order to avoid the accident, failed to operate a vehicle with adequate brakes, failed to drive in a single lane and failed to obey a traffic control device, according to the complaint.

In the two-count suit, Woodhouse is seeking a judgment in excess of $100,000, plus costs.

Jack Carey in Belleville will be representing her.